Friday, 14 October 2016

UPDATED: Kate in Erdem for 'Away Day' in Manchester

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelled to Manchester for a day of engagements.

Royal 'away days' tend to offer an excellent variety of engagements and that's certainly the case with today's itinerary. The day kicked off with a visit to the National Football Museum.

A look at the crowd waiting to greet the Duke and Duchess in Manchester.

The National Football Museum is located in Manchester's Urbis building. It was founded to preserve, conserve and interpret several important collections of association football memorabilia. During the first six weeks after opening, the museum welcomed over 100,000 visitors, and in just over two years over a million had walked through the turnstiles. Visitors enjoy world class objects (over 2,500 are on display at any one time), ground breaking interactives and a changing programme of temporary exhibitions, linking football to topics as diverse as fashion, history, art and World War I.

I believe I've shared the fact I know absolutely zilch about football during previous engagements related to the sport (attempts to educate me have proven unfruitful :)). Rebecca English echoed the sentiment as she arrived at the museum noting: "It'll be my most challenging brief this week as I don't know one end of a football pitch from t'other - and even less about the guys on it."

William and Kate attended a reception with young Mancunians who are making a difference to their communities.

Football Association president Prince William was very much in his element today. He is an avid Aston Villa supporter, whilst Kate supports Chelsea.

The Duke and Duchess met representatives from their Royal Foundation's Coach Core apprenticeship scheme.

William and Kate met 1966 England World Cup winner Roger Hunt, who brought along his winner's medal.

They enjoyed a tour of the museum, which aims to explain to fans and non-fans alike how and why football has become ‘the people’s game’, and a key part of the UK's heritage and way of life.

Prince William was excited to try the penalty shootout simulator. Dr Kevin Moore, director of the National Museum of Football, who showed them around, said afterwards: 'The Duke chatted very knowledgeably as you would expect about football, but the Duchess did as well. She was very interested and knowledgeable about aspects of the game. She's also fully aware of her husband's great pride and support for Aston Villa. As for William's penalty shoot-out, he belted it down the middle but it caught the keeper's toe. He definitely scored one after that though. His speed of 46 mph was very respectable indeed. Put it this way, he hits it hard. It was a proper penalty.'

Before they left they received a Manchester City football for George, a mini kit four Charlotte, cuddly mascots and two life-sized replica 1966 World Cup footballs, which were next to a photo of William kicking a ball when it was a child which made Kate smile.

William and Kate received a warm reception as they met locals during a walkabout.

William and Kate met children who had masks of their faces and several who wore crowns.

Next, the Duke and Duchess visited Manchester Town Hall and attended a ceremony at the Cenotaph to lay commemorative paving stones honouring Manchester's six Victoria Cross recipients as part of the First World War Centenary campaign.

As part of a UK Government First World War Centenary campaign, special paving stones are being laid in the hometowns of all those in the United Kingdom who were awarded the Victoria Cross. The VC is the highest decoration for bravery under enemy fire. The Palace added: "These paving stones have been presented to councils in the areas where First World War Victoria Cross recipients were born. It is hoped that the stones will provide an enduring legacy of local heroes and enable residents to gain a greater understanding of the impact the war had on their community."

The Duke and Duchess laid a wreath.

Kensington Palace tweeted: "628 Victoria Crosses were awarded in WW1. Of these, six recipients were born in Manchester."

The Duke and Duchess met relatives of the six Manchester Victoria Cross recipients honoured today.

You'll notice the Duchess arrived with a side ponytail and decided to undo and wear it loose after the engagement at the cenotaph. I suspect it may have come loose and she decided to wear it down rather than redoing it.

The couple's next stop was the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester. They visited the new Manchester Engineering Campus Development (MECD) currently under construction, where they helped to seal a time capsule within the building's foundations. The new development aims to build on the city's science and engineering heritage by providing world-class academic facilities.

Sir Andre Geim showed William and Kate around the Clean Rooms in the National Graphene Institute.

Earlier, I noted William was very much in his element at the football museum. The Prince was even more enthused as he tried out a car made of graphene. I was interested to learn graphene is the thinnest, strongest, most conductive material on the planet, and is also transparent, flexible, stretchable, and impermeable to water. Its potential applications are almost endless - from bendable smartphones to providing clean drinking water, from drug delivery to the next generation of aircraft.

What's the verdict on the car? Judging by his expression in this photo, I think it's safe to say he loved it!

Below, Kate signs a photograph for the capsule.

The couple placed their photos in the time capsule.

William and Kate unveiled a plaque before leaving.

Their final stop of the day was Francis House, a hospice which cares for children and young adults with life-limiting conditions.

The hospice was opened in 1991 by the late Diana, Princess of Wales, and is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary.

More on the history of the hospice:

'Francis House provides respite care, home care, sibling support, activity weekends for bereaved siblings, end of life care and bereavement support. This year the hospice needs to raise £4.2 million to fund running costs, and all services are given completely free. Very few young people with life-limiting conditions were able to survive past the age of 16 years in the mid 1990s, now thanks to facilities like Francis House, many are able to live beyond this.'

The Lodge started out as a four-bedroom house. It was a unique opportunity to trial different types of equipment and ways of working and informed decisions on the building of a new wing at Francis House. The new £3.5 million wing created a seven-bedroom extension to the hospice and became known as Francis Lodge. Respite care is now provided for 113 young people over the age of 16, with different care and emotional needs.

The Duchess debuted a new Erdem coat today. The bespoke plaid garment is based on a design from the Resort 2016 Collection (with many thanks to Perth Fashion). We know the Duchess loves her coats, and this is another fabulous addition to her amazing collection. A solid choice for the varied nature of engagements.

The eagle-eyed Kate J. from What Kate Wore Facebook identified them as the $190 Oscar de la Renta Hammered Gold-Plated Faux Pearl Earrings. The earrings are described: "Oscar de la Renta's earrings are an elegant way to complete day or evening looks. This gold-plated pewter pair is hammered to beautifully catch the light and centered with smooth faux pearls. Wear yours with swept-back hair." They are currently available at Farfetch.

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Several readers noted the similarities between Kate's earrings and the pair Diana wore when visiting Francis House. I'm inclined to think this isn't merely a coincidence - especially considering it's the first time Kate's publicly worn them.

214 comments:

Some great events today. Can't say the first one catch my attention at all though :P But it's nice and tied into Williams patronage, and very logical choice for Manchester to choose when putting together the itinerary.

The wreathlaying as always is a poignant moment, even when only seen in pictures.

Cant wait for the rest of the engagemetns!

These are the kinds of days that must be rather hard to dress for. (Although, they have surely had harder days.) I mean, the centopath requires a more formal and sombre look while a fotball museum etc is a more normal/casual-ish event. I think she handled it very well.

I like the coat! The fabric is very pretty! And it's yet another piece that can be brought out in a year or two.. or 10! Very nice!

I like her hair. This is my go-to ponytail because the "twirl" makes it look better than just a standard pony. (It's also great because you can pin the rest of your hair up and get a nice chignon!) The style needs a smidge of fine tuning (it's a bit too flat on her head and the twist could be higher up) but it has great potential and I can't wait to see her perfect this do. It's a nice addition to her rotation of hairstyles!

William and Kate looked color coordinated this morning. Probably the official reception group may have been also, or at least, for this more casual visit, the official reception bouquet may be color coordinated this morning.

I loved all the masks the children were wearing greeting Kate. Even including the corgis. She seemed delighted when she saw herself. How fun for the kids and W&K. She looked very elegant. I really liked the whole outfit, and her hair swept to one side. A picture perfect princess.

Nice day of engagements - I'm glad to see them undertaking more visits around the country. The visit to the cenotaph and the meeting with the families were particularly touching.

I like Kate's coat on her very much - it has originality - and glad to see the blue shoes paired with it. It was a good look for the serious engagement. I liked her loose ponytail too - a good style (although it looks like she might have taken it down in the last photo.) Whether they are all well-received or not, I've appreciated that she has chosen new things for at home - not just for the tour.

I'm not sure what I think about this coat. Don't love it. Don' t hate it. I don"t think it photographs well from a distance. One sees the coat first, not the duchess. Perhaps a bolder makeup palette and/or a bolder shoe would balance out the strong pattern of the coat. So hard to dress for these multiple engagement days especially when a memorial ceremony is included. I think her hair is lovely today.

Pretty much the only thing I like about this look is her hair. And there's no chance of flashing anyone at the war memorial, so that's progress! I really, really dislike the pattern and the earrings. It's like she's trying to bring back the 80s, which were bad enough the first time around!

I have to say today Kate looks amazing -- one of her best overall days. It is interesting because the coat, while nicely tailored is not necessarily exceptional, but something about the coat, the shoes, the earrings and the hair are working so well together. She looks radiant and at ease. For all those who felt compliments of her charisma were misplaced during her day in the Netherlands, I defy you to not notice her joy and radiance today. No she is not Diana, but she is commanding in her own more subtle way. I love the hair -- off her face but soft and youthful. Really well done!

I love the way Kate honours Diana in such subtle ways. She does not try to copy her or replace but it's the small gestures which are noted and appreciated. Kate is a gorgeous and stylish woman in her own right but she deserves a lot of credit for paying a very understated homage to Diana over the years.

I loved her look today, especially the hairstyle. She has been keeping it interesting with her hairstyles lately, love it!

Seeing Kate happy, interested, and relaxed only makes that photo of a sad, wretched looking Diana more distressing. I suppose in 1991 her marriage was finished and she was miserable, and it shows. Lovely of Kate to go with a plaid coat and 80's style earrings in quiet tribute. Great look for her.

I don't love this coat. I think it would be nicer without all the white random dots all over. I notice she had her hair down and then in a pony the same day. I wish I could do that. I have to put to much hair spray in my hair to get it to stay lol. The top underneath looks pretty but not with this coat. Looks too fancy with the lace detail. The earrings are ok. I like that she wore different shoes aside from the ferns/Rossi. I know they wouldn't go with this look but still lol.

Please get Kate a proper hairdresser already! A woman whose claim to fame is that she gave haircuts to little boys (albeit royal boys) should not be the hairdresser for one of the most famous and photographed *Women* in the world. Kate needs and deserves a skilled and talented hair stylist. I think part of it is Kate and William are making these "inner circle" decisions based on trust instead of skill. Tucker is a known quantity to them so they trust her, but as a hairdresser she's hit and miss at best. Especially when you consider Kate's starting with fantastic hair to begin with, a good hairdresser should make it and her look her absolute best, why else do you have them? Just my opinion of course.

And a note on William :) It was great to see him so relaxed and engaged with people, and clearly, as noted, in his element. He needs to get to the point where he brings that enthusiasm to every engagement (where appropriate of course) - his mother was a master of it. She said repeatedly, no matter what kind of day she was having, she knew when she had an engagement with people waiting to see her and meet her, she had to "show up" every... single... time!

Claudia, I agree with you regarding Kate's hairdresser. All in all this was a wonderful hairdo today, but my first thought was that it was never going to last the whole day. You need tons of hairspray to keep it in place for such long hours and possibly windy conditions outside and need to redo it again and again.It is just good luck for Amanda Cook Tucker that Kate's hair is so gorgeous that she can just undo it and it still looks wonderful. If I had such a ponytail and would undo it my hair would look like a complete mess. A solid ponytail would perhaps have been wiser for today's many engagements.

Too bad Diana didn't show up to Korea, Claudia. And the times she showed up in tears or with the pronouncements that she was retiring or, as she said to the journalists off the Fayed yacht "watch what happens next." Even I as an avid Diana fan got totally fed up with it at the end.

I agree with you about the hairdresser but have stopped worrying about it because I have a feeling that both Amanda and Natasha will be with Kate for the tenure of their "careers" because of the trust and comfort factors like you said. The fact that they will there like that makes me so sad that I refuse to think about it like I used to. I get so frustrated thinking about how much better things could be and how, with each history-making day passing, the best is not being done, IMO. I want Kate to get a good hairstylist and and a real stylist SO SO VERY much.

Keep Hope Alive! Perhaps when they become the Prince and Princess of Wales and have control of the Duchy of Cornwall funds they can pay expert stylist professionals with nondisclosure contracts to help her out. As it is, she's only been out in public 54 days out of the year - which is only 18% of the year so far. There were 235 days when we didn't see her! Perhaps Chaz is not willing to incur the expense for a stylist when she's not that busy and spends 75% of her engagements as William's helpmate.

For now, she's doing the best she can as one half of the 3rd Senior couple in all the land!

Valerie I'm trying to keep this brief because I'm afraid my reply to your comment could be quite lengthy!

There were many times my jaw hit the floor when I saw some of Diana's "antics", but I always had tremendous sympathy for her because I believe she was ill. Just as I wouldn't expect a model with a broken leg to do a perfect walk on the runway, I understand Diana was struggling with an illness that very few people at the time talked about, particularly in aristocratic circles. Reminder - this was more than 30 years ago.

Diana herself spoke about her depression, anxiety, post-natal depression, bulimia, how she struggled to figure out what was wrong, and how the people around her (the royal family) struggled to help her. She talked about Charles taking her to numerous doctors and psychiatrists and therapists - quite admirable on Charles' part I think, he was probably the man least equipped to deal with this. Again, it was 30 plus years ago, he was raised in very isolated and royal circles, many "normal" men at the time would have just said "the missus is crazy!" and moved on.

Those final years, particularly the last summer, I think she was in a complete tailspin. As much as she complained about the royals, I think she actually very much wanted to belong to the family, to be included, to be appreciated, she wanted her voice to be heard. She often said (I'm paraphrasing) that she was adored when she went out and "shut out" when she came back home. And then in her final year Charles was clearly and publicly moving on with Camilla, including a 50th birthday party for her at Highgrove - the home he and Diana first moved into as a married couple.

So, we can remember her at her worst, which was a few times, or at her best, which was probably thousands of times over 16 years. Diana had great respect for her role as Princess of Wales, she absolutely appreciated what it meant to the public and what they expected of her. And yes I believe 99% of the time, she "showed up", and treated every person and engagement as if it was the most important one on her schedule.

People blanketed KP in flowers and stood in tears for days after her death, for the thousands of times she did "show up", not for the few times in her royal life where her personal struggles and illness were simply too much for her to overcome on her own.

Valerie, I think you might want to reflect on your comment in light of William, Kate and Harry's current work to de-stigmatise mental health issues. Diana was undoubtedly (and understandably) a deeply unhappy and troubled soul at times in her life - she came from a broken home, she married a man who never truly loved her and by all accounts she later fell in love with a doctor whose family would not accept her. Yes, she wore her heart on her sleeve, but she had a big heart to wear! I sometimes wonder whether her unhappiness is partly responsible for her sons' commitment to the Heads Together initiative.

I have felt that same way so many times myself. I guess we will just have to make the most of it, but perhaps only while the children are small. Maybe Kate will do more input when she has more time then. We can hope. :)

Not that she looks really bad now but I believe she can look even better. She is a stunning beauty. I can tell Natasha's influence and am not a fan. You just have to google photos of what Natasha wears to know what I mean. The red dress worn while carrying luggage echoes the Chinese state dinner bodice and sleeves, the blue bodice and sleeves on the Bhutan gown, the schoolgirl type bodices on many of her choices including the green dolce and Gabana. The high necklines and poufyness at the shoulders. These are just my opinions, obviously, and they are not meant to offend anyone, btw. Kate always shines through even with a make-shift stylist and children's hairstylist. Kate is awesome. :)

I knew I was going to get hammered for what I wrote about Diana. What I was replying to was YOUR comment Claudia about how Diana "showed up" to her engagements as if she always put everyone else first. She couldn't and didn't because as you say she was sick. I am too--I had a lousy childhood, horrendous relationships so don't tell me about her illness. I felt sorry for her but that doesn't mean I am going to compare William and Kate unfavorably to her.

Yes Diana certainly had her problems and I can understand the desire to sympathize and give her a free pass on certain things. But the same should be afforded her daughter in law even though she is apparently a more stable individual. She also has the pressure of the BRF and the eyes of the world on her and constant comparisons. Just because she seems to handle it better than Diana did, does not mean that she has to be crucified for it. She is also not the Princess of Wales yet.

If one is keeping a comparative roster of engagements by the RF, it is fair to speak of everyone's in terms of days out or everyone in terms of individual appearances. Don't mix the comparisons according to which is least favorable for the Cambridges.I smiled 25 times yesterday, but there was no one there to see it. One Cambridge engagement is equivalent in impact to ten of some of the other royals.

Claudia, I don't think Diana was "ill". Does coming from a broken home make one ill? Does being in a "crowded" marriage make one ill? And I'm sorry but I cannot give Charles credit for trying to "help" Diana when his methods were just an attempt to make HER feel as though SHE was the problem. Granted, it was easier to point the finger at Diana and blame her rather than looking at the cause.

Hey there bluhare - don't mind if I do! I've been doing lots of royal watching on all kinds of websites. I was looking for pictures of royals in wrinkled outfits. Seems to be a signature look of just one royal in particular. Did I miss something? Have you seen others?

Royalfan. Diana said herself that she had postpartum depression, self harming and bullimia. I think it's fair to say she had an illness. But an illness is not all you are, it's just something you have.

Has no one been paying attention to William and Kate's mental health awareness campaign? Depression IS an illness. Eating disorders and anxiety disorders ARE illnesses. And YES they can be triggered or exacerbated by traumatic life events. Denying that or putting it down only adds to the stigma and makes it harder for people who are struggling to get help.

I almost always agree with you, royalfan, but surely bulimia and depression are illnesses, even though they may be reactions to stress. To add to what you have said about Charles, he did not take responsibility for his actions and their part in Diana's stress levels. Finally, he simply moved away from their marriage, leaving Diana to cope on her own. It was all very sad.

Hey Moxie, I haven't had a chance to look at royals wearing wrinkled clothing yet. I have to relearn math to calculate 10 x the impact per engagement. It's exhausting, especially when you factor in the clothing costs at 10x less than they actually are due to all the impact they have, as well as all the extra vacation they need to recover from all that impact. I can't keep up.

Perhaps royalfan was referring to the naive young girl of the see through skirt whotaught nursery school and who entered that marriage-not the Diana who emerged later.One wonders how many of those illnesses would have developed had she remainedin her work with children until full maturity.

I understand the issues that Diana struggled with and I have no problem calling it what it is, nor do I think there is anything to be ashamed of.

What I *DO* have an issue with, however, is when (and this is a general comment) the symptoms are categorized as the cause for [whatever]. If Diana had been in a loving and supportive environment with a loyal and supportive husband firmly in her corner (as William is in Kate's), I think Diana's life would have been very different. Not perfect, perhaps, but certainly not as stressful and demeaning as it was. I think that Diana's symptoms were used to define and dismiss her while supporting the disrespectful and uncaring actions of others. (Go back to her Martin Bashir interview and she touches upon this herself.)

Diana wasn't perfect, but the version of history that would have us believe that she was a nut and drove her husband into Camilla's arms is one I will not buy into...ever!

Will and Kate have taken less holiday time this year than most of the royal reporters. Thanks heavens the trio are not out more as the royal reporters would never cope. They barely cope with reporting on all other member's of the BRF.

I have to agree with the Anon and wonder if anyone's paying attention to what the mental health campaign is all about. There should be no difference between a physical illness or a mental illness, even separating it as "mental" is a bit of an issue, the brain is a part of our body!

And yes there can be direct causes for a mental illness - the most obvious when pregnancy and childbirth cause post natal depression. But many in the field say the greatest stigma is people thinking there HAS to be a reason. For example "what does she have to be depressed about, she has a great life!"

There does not have to be a REASON someone gets sick. Is there always a direct reason you got a cold? Sometimes people just get sick for no rhyme or reason. A very healthy person who's lived a good life can still get cancer, a person who has had a tough childhood may never have a bout of depression. Sometimes things just happen.

William and Kate and Harry are doing great things by getting people talking about mental health. Maybe they need to be a little more direct and specific. In any case, hopefully people will start listening.

Anon 1:35 -- that's because Kate was never a Lady, as Diana Spencer was. Put in the word "Duchess" and you'll find something very different. Or leave it out all together.

bluhare - I don't think many were amused to see Kate show up as a British representative looking like that. The coat at this event was a way to make sure she didn't look sloppy again. I wouldn't be surprised if Carol Middleton didn't pony up funds to help her daughter look less immature. Although, we'll never know for sure.

That ugly old "they don't earn their keep" ideology is surfacing again today in more than one comment. What a lame duck ideology that is in my opinion. No offense.

That ideology makes absolutely no sense to me. Factoring in many things, including all the nuances of the immense revenue generated for decades from tourism inspired and prompted by the existence of the monarchy, and the immeasurably good, life-changing effects of all their charities they establish and highlight, and also all the diplomacy and diplomatic good will that they pursue with such consistency. Factoring in all that, the they "don't earn their keep" seems like nonsense. Then there is the historical continuity, including resultant preservation of historical sites and linear protocols that span the generations linking the past to the present in a myriad of ways helping to define why England is the England that it is today.

William and Kate have been working diligently. Again, there must be a parallel universe thing going on here, because from my perspective the Monarchy has never been better, including William and Kate's many contributions.

I personally agree with others here on this blog who have said, more than once, that they think that the they "don't earn their keep" comes down to jealousy. To me, there is no other logical explanation for it.

What with the intertwined "CC" cuff links that Charles so arrogantly wore on his HONEYMOON, and the famous photo of a glowingly smirking Camilla trying to "buddy up" to Diana right after Diana's marriage, I agree with you on that. I will never ever believe that Diana drove Charles into Camilla's arms. That's absurd. Sadly, Camilla never had ANY intention of staying out of that marriage for one second, regardless of the level of her involvement at any given time during that period, in my opinion.

No one here said that royalfan. Some of us took issue with the comment that too bad Diana wasn't on top form all the time and that made fans get "fed up" with her. Given she was struggling with very serious illnesses, illnesses that lead many people to feel the only way out is suicide, a few of us thought she could be forgiven for times she wore her heart on her sleeve. And I would hope no one with mental illness would be referred to as a "nut", princess or not.

I love waking up to your blog and a new Kate post Charlotte!! Thank you! I don't particularly like the color of the coat but I like the coat. Narrow cut to avoid any flying up and I like the color. Wish there was a brighter color around her face though. Can anyone remind me where the number of engagements this year is posted? Seems they have been out and about a lot, especially William.

There must be a vastly eclectic assortment of bathrobes amongst the commentershere, judging from the variety of styles and fabrics that have reminded some oftheir (or granny's) bathrobes, nightgowns. Makes for exciting sleeping.Could keep one awake at night.

I really like the coat. The top underneath looks similar to the one she wore to the 2012 engagement but todays top does not appear as low cut? The earrings are actually attractive for costume but with all the real jewelry pieces she has I always think its crazy to spend the time and money on costume. I found the lacy top a bit of an odd choice. Her hair looked gorgeous and overall I really liked her look.

It might well be a prop but I was looking at old photos of Diana the other day and couldn't help but notice how jarring and 'in the way' her shoulder bags seemed. Clutches seem easier to control and neater.

shoulder bags are not really "classy", I think .... I like them because they are easy to use, however they are not so handy when ou have to bend to speak to someone, she already has to do with her hair .....

Later in her life Diana often used a clutch bag but carried it tucked under her arm leaving her hands free and for greeting and expressing herself. Also the way Kate carries it in front of her makes her look rather unapproachable - it is protecting her.

My understanding is that many royals and people in public life don't use them because they can create a "bump" in the shoulder of whatever is being worn unless the bag is light and thin - chains on bags sometimes work. Don't completely see this myself but that's what I've heard. Also of course, they can swing - a problem on walk-about where you're bending a lot. A plus is that holding on to the top of the purse gives something to do with your hands.

Kate - I manage events for public figures. You can't do a shoulder bag as Julia says, because of the swinging. As one turns to greet people, or to have a photo taken with someone, you can hit people in very unfortunate places.

I have tried all sorts of bags. Frankly, my current ones look something like the Queen's, but in various styles and colors. My shoulders were never built for holding up long straps, and clutches don't seem to stay under control. A medium sized bag with two handles works perfectly! I was a bit embarrassed when I reverted to those granny bags, but now I'm a granny so it's OK. :-)

Maybe she could use a clutch that has a wrist strap. That way she could carry it the way she always likes to, but she could let go of it if she wanted to use her hands to reach out to someone, but it wouldn't drop. Just dangle from her wrist a little.

Coat is beautiful and ideal for the fall weather but not on her. She's in her mid 30's. I'd say it's too mature for her. Same goes with the earrings. Would look nice on a lady like Sophie but not in Kate. I love the navy heels. She should have worn those with her baby blue suit when she visited The Netherlands. She would have looked great!

I don't think the coat would look right with Sophie's coloring, and Sophie doesn't look very old! I think it is time to realize that Kate is a grownup lady with vivid coloring and a slim figure that is fine in a unique fabric, dark color and horizontal stripes. It is a very interesting look. The shoes were great with it but might have been a bit dark for the pastel suit. Kate could have worn her sapphire earrings, which may have been Diana's, but apparently she really wanted to wear ones that resembled the earrings Diana wore to open the hospice.

I agree - I suspect it was chosen for the Canadian and didn't fit in for some reason. Most of us expected to see some Erdam. (Another possibility is that she didn't choose them - there weren't many days for skirts - and wore them now to show she is still using them.

Maybe it just wasn't cold enough to need it there? I like the coat very much except for the pink touches. It would look better without those - but it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, at least in the US, and pink is the breast cancer cure color.

Yes, Charlotte, I like the coat very much! And the shoes, purse, and lace top. She looks wonderful. And I love her hair. The new earrings aren't my favorite, but they look good on her and work well. All in all, a winning look!

She always looks lovely, but that coat does nothing for her. It just looks big and bulky. Seems odd that she didn't debut it on the Canadian tour, given the designer. Also, the earrings are one of my least favorites. They look very matronly, and don't coordinate with the rest of the outfit.

It seems that they are maintaining in touch with Canada, as to continue the tour also if not still in Canada. This coat, the commemoration of Amanda Todd, it seems that they are trying to show that they "are" in Canada.

A beautifully tailored piece...very appropriate look all around, she looks lovely. I've never been a fan of Erdem and find their designs too busy, but that's just me. I wonder if she bought this for the Canadian tour and then decided against using it there. I like her hairstyle.

Love the hair, earrings, and shoes but not a fan of the dress. I like the top underneath but not with the dress. Too many competing patterns for my taste. But they looked great out at the engagements. Fun at the football museum, somber at the war memorial, and engaged and involved at the hospice house. I would say these types of engagements really make them come into their own. Especially engaging with the kids with the masks! Good thing they both have well developed senses of humor and can appreciate the fun in the masks!

18:58, thanks. I didn't like her earrings today and was trying to figure out why she wore them as they didn't really seem to go with the coat or enhance anything. Now that you mention it, I would not be at all surprised if the reason was an homage to Diana. The earrings are very similar and particularly photograph even more similarly. You may have just found another "Kate thing". :)

I like Kate's look - mainly because this just seems like a "Kate Coat". The cut, style, etc. If she has on a black top - worn previously - that leads me to believe maybe a black skirt underneath as well? But she has on blue shoes - would that work? Kate has been know to wear navy and black. I'm one of those that does not however, I remember several posters here liking the combination.

Next time she wears this coat - I've love to see a magenta type dress underneath - go bold!

She has looked lovely this week in all of the different outfits: Printed Dress, Two-piece Suit and this Coat. And I do enjoy seeing the chemistry between Kate and William in the photographs. They are both very engaged at each event and are really stepping into their strides.

What a busy day, full of diverse and interesting things! I think it must have been especially moving for them to visit the hospice, for more than one reason. Hospices are incredibly important and do priceless work. I sincerely admire people who work in them. Does anyone know if it is run by the church? It would seem so, Francis might be a reference to St.Francis of Assisi.As for the clothes, I really love Kate's coat - its style, pattern, material - everything! And I like her shoes and clutch. Plus, both her today's hairstyles look lovely to me.Thanks a lot for the post!

This is a gorgeous coat - the issue with it is that it is not styled right so it looks like it is wearing Kate, not the other way around. This seems to be he case with a lot of her outfits - they r all gorgeous, but are always missing something that pulls the whole look together. This coat looks much better on the model because it is styled properly. The black cami is not right and the earrings are horrendous.

Oh no! Please don't ask Kate to dress like the model in the product shot - I couldn't bear that! Pie-crust collars make me think of little old maids going to bed in Victorian times, and I know I'd like Kate to vary her shoe styles a bit more, but those black and white things are truly ugly. I might have tweaked Kate's look today a little bit, but I would never have asked her to dress like that - it's just not her.

I can't imagine Kate wearing that white frilly blouse or the weird boots! I think her navy blue heels are perfect, and I even like the peak of lace, which is a nice contrast. The plaid and the earrings have been explained repeatedly.

I actually think the bulkiness of the coat is working well for Kate. She looks comfortable in it which comes through. This coat is not exceptionally beautiful but I agree with the others that it suits her and the day. It feels very Princess Anne to me!

When I spent a winter in England years ago, it was sometimes colder indoors than outside. Not because of air conditioning, just very low central heating. Don't know if the English still like it so chilly, but that could be the reason for dressing for a cool climate overall!

A good working coat I guess - I can see it moving from an event like today's to being used with jeans even on a cool day when a more sport style coat is not appropriated. That said, I had a wool bathrobe in fabric very similar to this in the 50s! I wore it with blue and gray mucklucks!

Am I looking at pleats in the coat? If not, great use of fabric design and structure. I love it. The duchess looked fabulous. I like her move to wearing her hair mor of the face. I really do enjoy the Outings with she and William together.

It appears that this coat is a love it or hate look from the other comments. It's quite lovely and I'm glad to see a pair of shoes she's had for a while. Don't love the earrings. Think her blue sapphires would have been prettier.

A wonderful day of engagements. Looking forward to Tuesday and more upcoming announcements for the rest of the year. This has been a great pace so I hope she is going to keep it up.

There was no summer vacation, other than ten days or so in August.They've been at this since at least March. People have made solemn pronouncements about their keeping up the pace since then-and they will be the first to note any time off with, "I told you they wouldn't keep it up."

We need to understand that when William and Catherine make appearances it is at a different level than others of the BRF. The level of press concentration, crowd anticipation, and Monday morning quarter-backing by "royal correspondents" that goes on-not to mention reams of material on blogs and comment sites-...all that demands adedication and stress price that can equal multiple visits by another BRFmember.

Two thoughts. 1) I'm wondering why Kate is not wearing some other pieces of Diana's Jewelry? 2) I like that she has taken a fashion risk here. I like the entire outfit. Plenty of commenters were bored with her "uniforms" and now she's changing it up a bit more! I'm thinking someone from her staff is reading our comments folks! DWLee333

A lovely day. I like this coat. I guess I just like Catherine in darker colors rather than pastels. I also agree about the hair comments. (I am not a fan of her hair down with lots of curls except for the most casual events.. That's just me. It just doesn't seem polished.) I am more a fan of pony tails, and updos. or I would love to see her with a bit shorter hair. Like I said that's me.

I thought she looked lovely. The coat had pizazz! Great with the navy shoes. Loved the hair twisted to the side. The lace cami didn't really do anything for the look. To light with the heavy fabric of the coat. Something a little heavier would have been nice. Her earrings could have had more piazazz but the total look was very nice.

What a lovely series of engagements! I thought both William and the Duchess looked very well put together and appropriate for these visits. They really shine in their interactions with the public and seem to leave a lasting impression on even the youngest people who are lucky enough to meet them. Toward the end of the second video, the one with the youngsters in the blue shirts, I'm pretty sure I heard one of the boys say, "I'm never washing my hand again!" Pretty awesome!

This is rare for me, but I'm not a fan of her outfit at all today. The coat's pattern is too busy, it looks like it's wearing her and the earrings look like something that should be worn by Princess Anne and not the Duchess. I do, however, like how it was probably intentional that she wore similar earrings to possibly make a subtle nod to her late Mother-in-law. Kate is very thoughtful to do so.

Glad Jean had a chance to see them - I think the coat was very appropriate for the occasion and I like the loose pony tail and like the softer style when she did have it down rather than those beauty queen curls. A nice day.

Quite often, I think the reference to what is considered "aging" or elderly would be better described as classic (vs trend). Just because something isn't hanging in a store window at the local mall, doesn't make it outdated.

I think the fit of the coat looks a little big. I am also tired of her copying every look Diana ever wore. Nice every now and then, but she needs to be her own person. I think if I were William I would eventually be over it.

Not only our Charlotte, but Victoria Murphy, and many here today have noticed Kate's nod to Diana in wearing her plaid coat and those earrings. Since it is the 25th anniversary of Diana opening of the hospice, I think Kate was definitely giving those nods to Diana. Any one who has ever questioned Kate actually doing "Kate things" should have no question about that from now on.

Oh wow, I think this coat was just about perfect for today. I really think that Kate is starting to have a bit of fun with her literal dressing, and I'm loving looking out for it! Today she managed to find a coat that simultaneously looked like a football net, had a criss-cross pattern for the Victoria Cross, looked like graph paper for the Graphene Institute and was reminiscent of her late mother-in-law's outfit when she opened the hospice. And all without looking like she was a parody - quite a magnificent feat!

I really like the coat itself and I hope we see it again on future engagements. I'm not sure I would have been brave enough to wear red or blue for a football-related visit to Manchester (not sure the United fans will be too happy about that), but I thought she managed to look formal enough for the wreath-laying without looking over the top for the other engagements. A big thumbs up for the outfit and the mix of visits. Loved it!

I have to add that I remember seeing the photos from the Diana engagement when it happened, only we weren't able to follow along in real time on Twitter and Charlotte and her amazing blog we couldn't even have imagined! We saw Diana's events in the papers the next day, or waited for the women's magazines, or if we were really lucky, maybe a blip on the 9 o'clock news :)

And now a younger generation watch William and Kate and probably think the rest of us sound ancient! But we oohed and aww-ed back then too. And if we make comments or observations that some of you think are harsh, it's because we've been watching this family - and how they relate to, represent, and serve the British public - for a very, very long time :)

Many of us have been watching this family for years, but so many seem to have selective memories where Diana is concerned. This is probably because of her tragic death at a young age. While there is plenty to be admired, there were also many dowdy outfits, poor oratory skills and boredom at many events. Difference is that Diana did not have to contend with social media where everything could be picked apart in real time. Diana navigated her short life as a royal as she thought best. In some ways she was very successful and in others not. W/K and H are probably also doing the best that they think they can. Sometimes they are successfuland other times less so. But to constantly criticize and compare serves no value. Different people, different times. If the monarchy survives, I pity George's wife! Imagine having to be compared to Diana and Kate and not to mention the queen.

Well, 15:23- I've been watching this family, too-probably for longer than most on this blog. I find no need to make harsh comments. I also don't think my knowledgegained from far-away watching for a long time equals really knowing anything.

Oooh Claudia, I remember those days too! I was so excited to get the morning paper and see the, often black-and-white, pictures of Diana at engagements. I'm not really a great lover of technology I have to say, but being able to watch live streams on the day that Prince George was born and again on recent royal tours has been absolutely wonderful. I have often sat and watched a live stream and thought about how I would have loved to have had the same opportunities back then. Personally, I owe my interest in the Royals entirely to Diana - without her I would not be following a blog about her son and daughter-in-law about 36 years after I first saw her photo in a paper.

I, too, am confused about the correlation between longevity and harshness. As a matter of fact, as a follower of the BRF for 30+ years now, I think it makes it easier to appreciate the big picture. It makes it easier to understand the reason(s) for many things and it keeps one from comparing apples and oranges. :)

Maybe everyone should reread my comment. I did not say I make harsh comments, I said, "if we make comments that some of YOU THINK are harsh". Specifically when some of us question William and Kate's work schedule or work ethic, their commitment to the traditions of the monarchy, how they handle their roles and communicate with the public - the taxpaying public I should add. As I said, "how they relate to, represent, and serve the public".

It may be the difference between Americans and Brits too, who have very different priorities where the royals are concerned. For example, if an English woman said "Oh I love following the Obamas, Michelle has such great clothes, they're a great couple and I just love their family!" An American might respond, "That's all well and good but we're not paying them to look nice in photos, they have jobs to do and he spends half his time on the golf course!" The English person might think that harsh :)

At the end of the day it is all an opinion and not fact. Perception is also an opinion. We really don't know very much, so criticism should be stated as an opinion and not fact.Most reporting is also full of bias.

Personal preference? It's a rather standard royal piece because it looks elegant while keeping warm. The scandinavian royals also wear alot of coats. I mean, both scandinavia and the UK is rather cold most of the year so coats make sense.

She probably keeps them all. Maybe some she sells anonomously, but I'm sure alot is stored. She pulls out pieces from 10 years back (before engagement!) so I'm sure she will pull out things we've not seen for quite a while!

I'd guess a couple of reasons - she is very thin and the climate in the UK is changeable so probably the practical reason is for warmth, as well as for being able to move around and sit comfortably (and modestly!).As Rebecca mentioned, the coats are also elegant while being not too stiff and old-looking. Most of the engagements involve some time spent outside doing a walkabout or meeting the crowd, so the coats are a way to keep warm while doing that. It would be tough to gauge how many she actually keeps. I'd say probably the majority. I'd guess the ones that she does not keep are returned to the designer and discreetly altered, then remarketed - without mention of their previous royal inhabitant.I read one time that the queen did that with her clothing, donated it to charity, after each piece was altered to disconnect it from its royal owner. I love the fact that she recycles and I think it's a big thing that makes her more relatable to normal Britons. The high-flying, high-living 1980s and 1990s might have been a time for a royal to go the "one and done" route in wearing ensembles but those days are long gone.

I am not a fan of a big plaid either and I agree the coat is a very matronly and something that Anne might wear. I think Kate wore it, and those earrings (that I don't like either), to commemorate the anniversary of Diana opening the facility.

Kate has written the foreword to some little booklet. The proceeds from the sale of the booklet will go to Heads Together. In the foreword Kate speaks about her paternal grandmother, Valerie, and Valerie's twin, Mary, working as code breakers during the war.

What a lot of interesting engagements these were. Thank you, Charlotte, for all the background information about them. I agree with the opinions of those who think this coat and earrings may be a nod to Diana. Very suitable; very "Kate" to make these choices. I like her hair in the ponytail as well as loose.

Has anyone seen the new portrait of the Queen? Just kidding but, 300 years ago someone would have been taken out and shot. Queen Elizabeth was always a pretty woman, and today at 90, she is still lovely. This portrait doesn't even look like her. What a shame.

She wears a hat in church and for engagemts with the Queen (Trooping, garden parties, etc.) if the Queen wears a hat. After WWII, hat wearing became much less frequent, and the princesses and royal duchesses followed the trend in their less formal daytime appearances. They set today's pattern.

Just came back for another look at the now-updated post. I really like the coat with the colour coordinated clutch and shoes. After all this time I’m still incredulous that the Duchess can stand and walk in those heels for hours at a time - makes my own feet ache just to think of it! Anybody know how high they really are?

I think this is the most boring outfit yet. I am a big fan of Erdem, yet this coat bewilders me. Also, Kate already had a number of coats she could have worn. How about the one she wore to welcome the president of Singapore?

I think the suit looks too matronly on her and is not well fitted. Many of her suits and coats are much more flattering on her figure. I do not understand the desire to dress like Diana so obviously for this visit. Carrying on Diana's charities is tribute enough.

It looks like it was a great day full of engagements! Kate looked lovely! I am not a huge fan of the suit, but just my opinion. Her smile is beautiful as usual! I really enjoy seeing William and Kate doing joint engagements. They are a dynamic team and doing a wonderful job. I love the nod to Diana by wearing the earrings. Perfect! Looking forward to the reception on Tuesday. Thank you Charlotte!

I love this coat but I continue to wonder why these coats and dresses are being tailored so weirdly high. This is almost a babydoll and/or Empire placement of the self-belt on this coat and it creates an odd shape on her, cuts off her torso and really doesn't flatter her lower half. There were one or two dresses during the Canadian tour that were tailored this way. If it's in anticipation of using them as maternity wear, there are better ways to achieve that styling than buying them with the waistlines and belts so oddly high. Just makes the garment look ill-fitted. I like her hair down in this event, although the side pony was nice. Looks like she's had a bit trimmed from it and it's looking much better these days.

I think the "empire" tailoring makes her legs look like they go on forever. I think that is why she fancies that style. She couples that often with nude heels and that makes the leg line even longer. No mystery to those of us who do the exact same thing to get that effect.

I can't say I have ever liked Diana's coat dress. Perhaps it would have been better without the red collar and cuffs. Does anyone know whether the fabric is a tartan? It does feature crosses, and since she is standing beside a clergyman, this must have been a church sponsored hospice event. Diana's tight smile is quite a contrast to Kate's relaxed and open expression.

Elizabeth-take a look at the outfits on the models-same high waist. No big mystery ordevious plot there...lolIt is a designer device to flatter the waist by having it fall in a usually smallerarea of the body.

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